🔍Summary
The Mahabharata, a Sanskrit epic composed by sage Vyasa, is the longest poem in world literature. Blending history, mythology, and spiritual philosophy, it narrates the intense conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Beyond being a cultural cornerstone of India, it offers timeless lessons on duty, justice, and the path to liberation. Available in various regional Indian languages, the Mahabharata continues to enlighten readers globally.
Did you know the Mahabharata is over 10 times longer than the Iliad and Odyssey combined? More than a story, it’s a guide to life, war, and dharma.
The Mahabharata, meaning 'Great Epic of the Bharata Dynasty' in Sanskrit, is one of the most revered literary works in Indian and world literature. Alongside the Ramayana, it is one of the greatest and most significant epics in Indian literature. The Mahabharata is considered one of the greatest and longest epics in world literature.
Most modern scholars estimate the Mahabharata's composition between 400 BCE and 400 CE, with oral traditions possibly earlier. It is not just an epic or a religious book but an ocean of knowledge and wisdom. The book teaches us the way of life. At over 1.8 million words and 100,000 verses, it is the longest poem ever written and is approximately ten times the length of the Iliad and Odyssey combined.
It weaves together mythology, ethics, warfare, politics, and dharma (righteous living). The story culminates in the Kurukshetra War, an intense civil conflict between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, royal cousins fighting for the throne of Hastinapur.
Lord Ganesha Seated on Blooming Lotus Scripting The Mahabharata
🔸Composed of 18 Parvas (books) and an appendix called Harivamsha.
🔸Contains over 1.8 million words and 100,000 slokas (verses).
🔸Structured to teach Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
🔸10 times longer than Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey combined
🔸4 times longer than the Ramayana
Besides, there is an annexure named Harivamsha, which means “Genealogy of the God Hari.” For its exceptional length, many scholars opined that the Mahabharata book is unlikely to be the creation of a single individual. Its magnitude leads many scholars to believe it was composed by multiple contributors over centuries, though Vyasa is traditionally credited as the sole compiler.
This legendary epic was composed by the sage Krishna-Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa. He also compiled and divided the vast Vedic knowledge into 4 parts. It is believed that Veda Vyasa recited the Mahabharata slokas, and Lord Ganesha wrote it. As per mythology, Vyasa couldn’t find anyone on the earth to write the Mahabharata.
He, therefore, asked for the help of Lord Ganesha, who blesses success and ends all obstacles. As per legends, Lord Ganesha took three years to write the Mahabharata. However, he was writing the epic at an incredible pace and broke his stylus. And as he vowed to complete the writing at a stretch, he broke a piece of his tusk and finished the task.
The mighty feud between the cousins, and the many wars and conflicts throughout the Mahabharata builds up to a series of grand battles on the Kurukshetra field, in the Haryana state. At the end of the battle, all the Kaurava brothers are defeated and killed. While the side of the Pandavas emerge victorious, the only survivors are the five brothers, Draupadi, and the god Krishna.
The main storyline of this great epic can be summarized as a tale that revolves around two brothers. They were the princes of Hastinapura, Dhritarashtra, and Pandu. Their respective family branches engaged in war, fighting for the throne of Hastinapura.
🔸Prince Dhritarashtra, the older brother, couldn’t sit on the throne due to his blindness from birth, his disability deprived him of his birthright.
🔸Pandu, his younger brother was crowned king upon their father’s death, while enjoying hunting in the jungle, was cursed by a sage, which made him unable to become a father.
🔸Pandu's wives, Kunti & Madri.
🔸Kunti was granted a boon by sage Durvasa that she could request God for a child. She shared the secret mantra with Madri, and both gave birth to 5 children
🔸Pandavas - Yudhishthir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadev, unitedly known as Panch Pandav.
🔸Yudhishthira (son of Dharma - Yama, the god of death and justice)
🔸Bhima (son of Vayu - God of the Wind)
🔸Arjuna (son of Indra - god of war, rain, and thunder)
🔸Nakul & Sahadev (sons of the Ashwini Kumaras - Hindu twin gods)
🔸Dhritarashtra had 100 sons—the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana.
Upon the death of Pandu, the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur with their mother, Kunti. Conflict, jealousy, and resentment arose between the Pandavas and their cousins, the Kauravas, who were the children of Prince Dhritarashtra.
Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, plans a conspiracy against the Pandavas to kill them. The 5 brothers escape the distress with their mother & go underground. Eventually, the 5 brothers jointly marry Princess Draupadi and return to Hastinapur. However, on their return, Duryodhana, the oldest of the Kauravas, invites Yudhishthira to a game of dice where the latter loses everything. It forces the Pandavas out of the kingdom once again. They then spend twelve years exiled in the forest.
The Pandavas lose their kingdom and are exiled for 13 years. This betrayal sets the stage for the epic Kurukshetra War. The mighty feud between the cousins, and the series of conflicts throughout the Mahabharata results in the grand battle of Kurukshetra. This part of the epic focuses on Lord Sri Krishna and his teachings which is compiled in The Bhagavad Gita.
So, this part can also be considered as the Krishna Mahabharata. At the end of the battle, all the Kaurava brothers are defeated and killed. While the Pandavas emerge victorious, the only survivors are the five brothers, Draupadi, and Lord Krishna. The five brothers then head towards heaven.
However, along their way, each of the four brothers falls, and only Yudhisthira makes it to the gates of paradise. The story doesn’t end here, as Yudhisthira is still made to face further tests of his faithfulness. After passing these final tests, Yudhisthira is not only reunited with his Pandava brothers and their wife Draupadi, but also with his enemy cousins, the Kauravas. They all enjoy eternal bliss together.
To share its teachings with the masses, the Mahabharata has been translated into many Indian languages. The original Mahabharata was in Sanskrit, but you can read the Mahabharat book in Hindi and many regional languages. Each version brings unique interpretations and insights. Books like
🔸Mahabharata-Ashtadashi (Analysis of Eighteen Female Characters of Mahabharata) by Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri
🔸Mahabharat Kaleen Shikshan Pranali by Veena Vishnoi Sharma
🔸Mahabharata Mool Katha (Set of 3 Volumes) by Dr. Rahul
🔸Maharthi Shikhandi by Dheer Singh Pavaiya
🔸Yuganta (An Analysis of Some Exceptional Characters of the Mahabharata) by Sasta Sahitya Mandal Prakashan
🔸A Heroic Tale Barbaric (Punjabi) by Padma Sen
🔸Strategic Arrangement and Strategy Described in Mahabharata by B. R Publishing Corporation
Are some of the books that might prove beneficial for the readers who what to explore different aspects of Mahabharata and its influence on daily life.
Famous scholar Kabindra Parameswar translated the Mahabharata in Bengali in the 16th century. Since then, several other writers have written the epic in Bengali. So, you can buy the Bengali Mahabharat book written by your favorite writer online. Apart from this classic, other similar books might help enrich a person's spiritual intelligence. Books like
🔸“Cheledera Mahabharata (Bengali)” by Upendrakishore Roy Choudhury are perfect for children to be acquainted with the epic.
🔸Droupadi: Swyambhutar Jiban Charit (Bengali), a book by Madhuboni Chattopadhyay talks about Draupadi, her birth as the Swayambhuta, and her life turmoils.
🔸Kashidasi Mahabharata (Bengali) by Kashiram Das
🔸Mahabharate Barnita Janajati (Bengali) by Sudhir Kumar Bhoumik
🔸Puranakosa (An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas in Bengali (Set of 3 Volumes) by Nrisinha Prasad Bhaduri are also essential books that could benefit the readers.
The evergreen story of the Mahabharata inspired the Gujarati scholars & writers to translate the book in this language. Buy the Mahabharata in Gujarati written by renowned writers. To help the readers other books delve into delve into different aspects of the epic. Books like
🔸Mahabharatni Maitre Kathao (Gujarati) by Jay Narayan Vyas
🔸Mahabharatano Yuddhakala (Gujarati) by Shree Vasant A. Godbole
🔸The Mysteries of the Mahabharata (Gujrati) by Vijaya Lele
🔸Mahabharatman Matruvandana (Gujarati) by Dinkar Joshi are some of the gems that might help the readers to discover other fascinating aspects of the epic.
For the readers of southern India, it's a popular book. So, several writers have written the Mahabharata in Malayalam that you can buy from an online store. The best part about the Malayalam Mahabharat and it has been written by different writers is that every book has something different to offer to the readers. Books like
🔸Kuttikalude Mahabharatham (Malayalam) by Aranmula Hariharaputhran
🔸Vidura Neethi in Malayalam (An Old and Rare Book) by K. R. Ramakrishnan
🔸Araneyopakhyanam- Mahabharatam (Malayalam) by K. R. Ramakrishnan
🔸Mahabharata (Malayalam) by M. P. Chandrasekharan Pillai
🔸Yato Dharmastato Jaya: Study for Mahabhartha (Malayalam) by Narendra Kohli, K.C. Ajaykumar are other very important works by different prominent writers that shed light on unpopular aspects of the epic.
There are several popular translations of Mahabharata in Kannada. Among them, Mahabharata written by Jnanpith award winner Kuvempu is the most popular. The Mahabharata being an epic and Kannada being one of the oldest languages makes an epic combination and writers have attempted to bring out different aspects of the Mahabharata time and again. Books like
🔸Panchamaveda Mahabaratha (Kannada) by G. V. Sharma Pandit
🔸Bheeshma Darshana Arthath Mahabharath in Kannada by Rangarao Swamirao Deshpande
🔸Kumaravyasa Bharata Emba Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari (Set of 2 Volumes in Kannada) edited by T. V. Venkatachala Sastry
🔸The Story of Mahabharata (Kannada) by Geeta Press are popular and reliable sources of knowledge that could help the reader understand how Mahabharata teaches us about actions and their consequences.
This book is extremely popular among the Tamil population. The first translation of the Mahabharata was in Tamil. You will find Mahabharat in Tamil written by several renowned writers. Every writer contributed thoroughly towards a better understanding of the epic and the life lessons that it propagated. Books like
🔸Mahabharatha Vachana Kaviyam Shanmuga Kavirayar in Tamil (Set of 5 Volumes) edited by R. Srinivasan, D. Gunanidhi
🔸Some Ideal Characters of Mahabharata (Tamil) by Geeta Press
🔸Matru Morumurai Mahabharatam (Tamil) by Sathyadev
🔸Karna Moksha Natakam (Tamil) by B. Rathina Nayakar & Sons
🔸The Mahabharata in Tamil (Set of 10 Volumes) by Sri Bhagawan Nama Publications are some of the very popular books that could help the readers gain some more insight about the epic and its long-term utility in the daily life of people.
The Mahabharata is the best smriti text and epic from ancient India to be translated into Telugu. You can choose to read the Mahabharata in Telugu written by several writers. Writers of this classical Dravidian language have attempted to simplify the knowledge that has been ingrained in every line of Mahabharata, they also attempted to present an unbiased opinion of other aspects of the epic. Books like
🔸Telugu Mahabharata Ratnamala (Set of 3 Volumes in Telugu) by Salaka Raghunatha Sharma
🔸Bhishma: Bhagavata Murthy in Telugu by K. Parvathi Kumar
🔸Vidura Niti for Younger Generations by Samavedam Shanmukha Sharma
🔸Sri Madandhra Mahabharata (Telugu) by Kompella Ramakrishna Murthy
🔸Campu Mahabharatam-Sarasabhaskari: A Commentary (Set of 2 Volumes in Telugu) by Ramakrishna Suryanarayana
🔸Andhra Mahabharata with Commentary - Set of 15 Volumes (Telugu) by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati is lo less than windows to the vast world of the wisdom that each page of the epic holds, reading these books is a guaranteed benefit for the readers.
Many popular writers have translated the Mahabharata into Marathi. So, you can easily find Marathi Mahabharata books online written by your favorite writers. The Marathi language writers have always been very prompt in taking up topics that have humanitarian value. The existence of so many different types of attempts to understand the Mahabharata in the language shows the eagerness of the writers to propagate the wisdom that is ingrained in the epic. Books like
🔸Shri Madhava Swamy's-Mahabharata Virata Parva in Marathi (An Old and Rare Book) by Madhava Swamy
🔸Mahabhartache Vardhan; Part-1 in Marathi (An Old & Rare Book) by Raghunath Bhinde
🔸Lord of the Indian War (Marathi) by Alka Takte, Radhey Karna (Marathi) by V S Wakaskar
🔸Shri Mahabharat Katha (Marathi) by Gita Press, Gorakhpur
🔸Mahabharatatil Hajar Sarth Subhashite (Marathi) by H A Bhave
🔸Complete Mahabharata in Marathi (Set of 8 Volumes) by Bhalba Kelkar are some helpful sources that could help the readers to be enriched by the wisdom flowing in every page of Mahabharata.
The earliest translation of the Mahabharata into Odia is done by Adi Kavi Sarala Das. Later, several other writers have written the Mahabharat in Odia that you can choose to read. Odia, a classical language has been a tool for propagating the wisdom of classics like Mahabharata for a very long time. The writers of the Odia language made various attempts to bring different perspectives of the Mahabharata and they have been largely successful in doing so. Books like
🔸Mahabharata in Odiya (Set of 3 Volumes) by Dharma Grantha Store, Cuttack
🔸Khiti Bansa Purana (Odia) by Hadibandhu Das
🔸Gopala Sahasranama (Odia) by Dharma Grantha Store, Cuttack
🔸Shrimadbhagawat Mahatmya (Odia) by Maharshi Vedavyasa
🔸Kanva Samhita (Odia) by Kanva Maharishi
🔸Bibi Tri Mahabharata (Odia) by Yudhisthir Sahu
🔸Teachings of Queen Kunti (Odia) by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are some of the popular books that have been helping the readers enrich themselves with the infinite flow of wisdom.
The Mahabharata isn't just about war. It’s about dharma (duty), karma (action), bhakti (devotion), and moksha (liberation). It explores the human condition—flawed heroes, moral gray areas, the cost of pride, and the triumph of truth.
It teaches:
🔸The value of wisdom through characters like Vidura
🔸The price of ego through figures like Duryodhana
🔸The role of divine guidance via Krishna
Some even call it the Fifth Veda—a timeless guide to living with purpose and integrity.
The Mahabharata is not merely a story; it is a spiritual guide, a philosophical treatise, and a moral compass for humanity. Whether you are interested in mythology, ethics, or ancient history, the Mahabharata offers unmatched insight into the human condition.
✨ Explore a version in your regional language and begin your journey into one of the world’s most profound narratives.
🔹The Mahabharata is the longest epic poem globally with deep moral lessons.
🔹Authored by sage Vyasa with divine transcription by Lord Ganesha.
🔹It teaches dharma, karma, and moksha through intense family conflict.
🔹Contains the Bhagavad Gita, a timeless guide to ethical living.
🔹Available in multiple Indian languages, making it universally accessible.
🔹Revered as the fifth Veda due to its spiritual depth and cultural impact.
The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic that narrates the story of the Kuru dynasty and the great war of Kurukshetra. It is important for its philosophical, moral, and cultural teachings, and is considered one of the foundational texts of Hinduism.
The Mahabharata was composed by the sage Vyasa, also known as Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. According to tradition, he dictated it to Lord Ganesha, who wrote it down.
The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse philosophical dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, found within the Mahabharata. It discusses duty, righteousness, and the path to salvation.
The Mahabharata is the world’s longest epic, containing over 1.8 million words and 100,000 verses. It is nearly ten times longer than the Iliad and the Odyssey combined.
It teaches dharma, karma, and life’s moral duties. The Bhagavad Gita within it offers key spiritual guidance, making it a core text in Hindu philosophy.
Originally written in Sanskrit, the Mahabharata has been translated into Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, and many other regional languages.
While some consider it historical fiction or myth, others believe it is based on real events that occurred in ancient India. It remains a spiritual and cultural cornerstone regardless of its historicity.
Whether you read it in Sanskrit or your native language, the Mahabharata invites you to explore life’s biggest questions. It’s not just an epic from India—it’s an epic for all humanity. Ready to start your journey with the Mahabharata? Choose a translation that resonates with you and dive in.
The Mahabharata is a vital source of knowledge and insight on the evolution of the Hindu faith. The great epic is considered both a historical piece of literature, narrating past events in the Aryan genre, and a book about dharma or Hindu moral law.
Because the greatest battles are fought within—and the Mahabharata helps you win them.
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